Boating is one of the things a lot of people find immense pleasure in doing. Having fun on the water is an experience like no other and cannot be replicated on land. It’s no surprise that a lot of people, like you, love to go boating whether at sea or in freshwater bodies.

Being close to nature can do wonders for our overall well-being. Since nature gives us so much, it’s just fair to respect this precious resource with environmentally-friendly boating practices.

These practices are simple to do and follow and can even provide you with great peace of mind knowing that you did your part to keep the waterways clean and even inspire others to follow you and do the same. Here is a list of examples to get you started:

Go Green and Clean

Boat cleaning products such as cleaners, polishes, and waxes are now available in more environmentally friendly forms. This is great news for large boat owners who can only do boat maintenance work on the water. These products are made with agents that easily biodegrade when exposed to the environment so they don’t pollute the environment.

If you own a trailerable boat such as a Yellowfin or a Quintrex boat, carry out big cleaning tasks to the shore to prevent any kind of chemicals from entering the water. While choosing a product, it's important to read the ingredients closely. Avoid products that contain phosphates as they can harm marine life and cause algae blooms.

Prevent Organisms from Invading Your Boat

Grit and grime on your boat pale in comparison to invasive species such as plants and animals on your local waterways. Sea-going vessels, barges, recreational watercraft and even boat trailers are responsible for spreading them. Aquatic invasive species are prolific breeders and quickly become established where they don’t belong. You can prevent their spread by identifying the problem to prevent those nasty invaders. For example, if you want to avoid barnacles from clinging onto your boat’s hull, regularly clean your boat and take it to shore when not in use.

Prevent Fuel Spills in the Water

If you need to fill up your Mercury motorboat engine with fuel, do it carefully. Fuel spills do nasty stuff to the marine environment and aquatic organisms. Plus, they can be hazardous if you don’t do it properly.  We recommend filling the tank up to 90 per cent of its capacity to allow space for fuel expansion and boat movement. Use absorbent clothes or pads to clean up any drips.

Be a Responsible Fisherman

When you’re fishing, try as much as possible not to discard old fishing lines into the water. The line can become entangled with other aquatic animals and birds. Discard them in designated garbage bins that are found at fishing piers and marinas. Don’t release unused live bait into public waters since these species can be classified as invasive species. If you’re planning to release the fish you caught, don’t hold a large fish vertically by the lip. Hold the fish horizontally, using one hand to hold the jaw and the other to support the tail. You don’t want to add more stress to the fish and handling them well can increase their chances of survival once they go back to their habitat.

Avoid Leaving Trash Anywhere

Don’t be a litterbug. Litter not only look like an eyesore but they are also the cause of pollution. For food, reduce trash by storing those items in resealable plastic storage containers inside your water vessel. You can consolidate foods by portions, and use personal reusable water bottles to store your beverage. Bring along extra trash bags in case your current garbage bin is full of rubbish.

Educate Yourself

One of the best things you can do to become a better boater who cares about the environment is to educate yourself about any laws in effect where you plan to go boating. That includes fishing regulations and rules for camping and burning fires. Those laws are in effect to protect the environment, and you should do your part by knowing them.

These are just some of the things you can do to help save our environment from further damage due to pollution. We hope you’ve learned something. Remember to be consistent with your actions and encourage other boaters to do the same as well to make a positive impact on our community and our environment.